Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

"There is a sure-handed display of craftsmanship in these eleven stories. Kevin Hardcastle's characters make dire decisions; violence is commonplace but indelibly described. Everyone gets hurt, but everything makes sense, and the storytelling is so goodthe language, a soothing balm for the pain."John Irving, author of The Cider House Rules

The eleven remarkable stories in Kevin Hardcastles debut Debris introduce an authentic new voice. Written in a lean and muscular style and brimming with both violence and compassion, these stories unflinchingly explore the lives of those MMA fighters, the institutionalized, small-town criminalswho exist on the fringes of society, unveiling the blood and guts and beauty of life in our flyover regions.

Review

Advance Praise for Debris and Kevin Hardcastle

Debris carves straight to a reader's gut, and more importantly to their heart. Kevin Hardcastle knows the characters who populate his stories intimatelytheir troubles, their fears, whatever's ticking deep at their cores. This collection thrums with subtle power and grit, but also a well-earned measure of hope."

Craig Davidson, author of Rust and Bone

Mr. Hardcastles stories are written in a powerful, brawling style: they possess courage and heart. Hes an artist who gives the impression he will break down barriers to arrive at the Truth of things. And no Truth, no spec of humanity, is too small for his keen, sympathetic eye.”Cort McMeel, author of Short and co-founder of Murderland

"Kevin Hardcastle's stories are like the fighters he writes about: balanced, precise, knowing exactly when and where to hit you. Debris is the world delivered straight, in all its aggression and tenderness. Its an astonishing debut, and one that reads as if it were written by a seasoned veteran.”Tamas Dobozy, author of Siege 13

Synopsis

Reminiscent of Donald Ray Pollocks Knockemstiff and Daniel Woodrells Winters Bone, Debris is a thrilling addition to the country-noir genre.

Synopsis

Winner of the 2016 Trillium Book Award

Finalist for the 2016 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize

Nominated for the 2015 Danuta Gleed Literary Award

One of Quill & Quire s Books of the Year, 2015

One of 49th Shelf's Books of the Year, 2015

The eleven remarkable stories in Kevin Hardcastle s debut Debris introduce an authentic new voice. Written in a lean and muscular style and brimming with both violence and compassion, these stories unflinchingly explore the lives of those MMA fighters, the institutionalized, small-town criminals who exist on the fringes of society, unveiling the blood and guts and beauty of life in our flyover regions.

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Synopsis

Reminiscent of Donald Ray Pollock's Knockemstiff and Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone, Kevin Hardcastle's debut Debris introduces a powerful new voice into the country-noir tradition: these are stories about rural, working-class characters at the fringes of society. Brimming with violence, this collection explores the struggle against poverty, loneliness, mental illness, and marginalization. Written in a lean, muscular style, Hardcastle's debut collection unveils the blood and guts and beauty of life in our flyover regions.

Kevin Hardcastle's stories have been widely published and anthologized. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

About the Author

Kevin Hardcastles stories have appeared in Shenandoah, The Walrus, The New Quarterly, The Malahat Review, EVENT, PRISM International, and Joyland. His work has been anthologized in Best Canadian Stories, and twice in The Journey Prize Stories. Hardcastle lives in Toronto.